Roller kelly bushing



Oct. 24, 1950 w, A, VQCK 2,527,081

l ROLLER KELLY BUSHING Filed Deo. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N VEN TOE W. A. VOCK ROLLER KELLY BUSHING oct. 24, 195o Filed Dec. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l /Na/ENTOQ W @C WM firme/ver Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT YOFF-ICE ROLLER'. KELLY BUSHING vWilliamA. Vock, Long Beach, Calif.

Application December 21, 1946, Serial'N'm 717.792

(Cl. Z55-23) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a'roller kelly bushing and it is a general object yof the 'invention to provide a simple practical improved structure for use in driving a kelly or grief stem from a, rotary table in a well drilling rig.

.The usual rotary well drilling:rig involves a drilling string operated Vfrom a `rotary unit through a kelly on the upper end of the string. The kelly is generally driven from the rotary unit by a kelly bushing and itis common to use a type of bushing involving Yrollers 'that bear on the kelly so that the kelly can move vertically :through the bushing and consequently through the table with a minimum ofiresistance and While it is being rotated from the table. The usual or common roller kelly bushings'are highly satisfactory when they properly tthe kelly. However, the working parts are subject to wear and it is not infrequent for a, kelly vto be Worn substantially with the resultthat play developsxbetween the driving bushing and the kelly, and `thisis highly undesirable.

My present invention is concerned .primarily with a roller kelly bushing of the `generaltype above referred to and it is .a general `object of the invention to provide a simple, practical improved structure involvingV cages carrying'the kelly engaging rollers and means operable ito adjust the cagesinto vthe desired :position `relative to the kelly so that the desired operating relationship is established vfree of unnecessary looseness.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structure of the general character referred to involving an effective dependable'lock means for fixing the adjustment .of Ithe roller cages. f

The various objects and features of :my invention will be fully understood /from the'ifollowing detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to 'theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a rotary unit including a master bushing and showing a roller kelly bushing driven thereby and passing a typi- 'cal kelly, the kelly bushing which embodies'my invention being shown in elevation. Fig. E`2 is a plan view taken as indicated by line V2-'2 von Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan section taken as indi cated by line 3 3A on Fig. 1. Fig. liis an enlarged detailed sectional View throughthestructure'that I have provided, being a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa planlsection of the structure shown in 4 being awiew taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 4. Fig. 46 is a plan section Ataken as indicated by line 6-.6 on Fig. 4. Fig. 7 Yis an enlarged side elevation of the kelly bushing that I have provided with certain parts brokenaway to sho-w in section .being a view taken as indicated by line 'I--l on Fig. 2. Fig. `8 is :a vdetailed sectional yView taken as indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one of the roller cages showing the manner of mounting a roller therein. Fig. l() is ,a detailed sectional view taken as indicated byline Ill-.IB on Fig. 6, and Fig. l1 is a det/ailedsectional .view taken :as indicated by line I i-II in Fig. 6.

The structure is intendedlprimarily for use in connection with an ordinary rotary unit and kelly. In the 4drawings I have shown a, typical rotary unit involving a table A driven from a shaft B through a gear drive-C, which table carries the'usual master bushing D. I have shown an ordinary yor conventional kelly E lextending vertically through the rotary unit and driven by a roller. kelly bushing embodying the present invention which bushingais mounted in and driven by the master bushing. The kelly E beingof conventional .form is square in crosssection so Vthat it has four flat sidesV lil and it has a .central longitudinal circulation opening l I.

The bushing` embodying the present invention involves, generally, a body F, a cap G closing the body, means H connecting the body and cap, stop Vmeans J stopping the cap relative to the body with the connecting means engaged, lock means locking the cap engaged with the body and a pluralityof drive units L carried in thevbody F Where they are retained by the means G. More specically my invention provides means M adjustably supporting the units L in the body F.

.operating means O for the means Mfandsetting or locking means N for the means M.

The body .F has a vertically disposed 'substantially cylindrical side wall I2 and is provided at its lower `,end :with a bottom I3 having acentral opening I4 4passing the kelly E with .'sub stantial-clearance. A driving lug I5 depends from the bottom I3 -to t into and 4have drivingeen- `gagement with a Vmaster bushing D in the vtable -stantia1 clearance. `The `cap 'G serves primarily as a means for retaining the drive units L in the body F, and for this purpose it projects inwardly from the wall I2 of the body to overlie the upper ends of the units L.

The means H provided for connecting the cap G and the body F involves cooperating lugs on the connected parts. In the preferred form of the invention a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly projecting radial lugs are provided on the body at or near its upper end. A depending flange or skirt 2l is provided on the outer or peripheral portion of the cap G to extend downwardly past the lugs 20. A plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly projecting radial lugs 22 are provided on the lower portion of the skirt 2l to engage under the lugs 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The lugs 20 and 22 are of such circumferential extent and are so spaced that the cap G can be rotated to a position where the lugs 22 will move vertically between the lugs 20 allowing the cap to be disengaged from the body. However, when the lugs 22 are engaged beneath the lugs 20 the cap is effectively connected to the body and thus positively prevents displacement of the drive unitsv L from the body.

The stop means J serves to positively stop the cap G against rotation on the body in a counterclockwise direction from a position where the lugs 22 are fully engaged beneath the lugs 20. In its preferred form the stop means J involves an upwardly projecting stop lug 25 on the upper end of the body F and a stop lug 26 on the inner or under side of the cap located to cooperate with the lug 25 as illustrated in Figs. 6, 10 and 11 of the drawings.

The lock means K serves to positively lock the Ycap and body in position with the connecting means H fully engaged. The means K preferably involves one or more locks each involving a lock pin or key 30 carried in registering openings 3I and 32 provided in the cap and body respectively. The opening 3l extends vertically through the portion of the cap 'G which overhangs the upper edge of the body wall I2 while the opening 32' extends vertically through an enlargement or boss 33 at the upper end portion of the body wall. In its preferred form the lock pin is tapered so that it may be wedged tightly into the openings 3l and 32. In practice any suitable means maybe provided for making the lock pins secure. In the form of the invention illustrated I show a screw having a head 34 engaging the bottom of the boss 33 through a suitable washer 35. The shank 35 of the screw extends through the central longitudinal opening 31 in the lock pinV with substantial clearance. A clamp nut 38 is threaded on the enlarged upper end portion of the shank 3G and is operable to force the pin downwardly in the tapered openings 3I and 32.

In accordance with my construction the drive bushing involves a plurality of drive units L carried in the body F. For instance when the kelly E is square as I have shown in the drawings I provide four drive units L, one to engage each side of the kelly. The drive units L are confined in the body F between the bottom I3 and the cap G and each unit carries a plurality of bearing rollers 40 that contact the kelly E.

The several drivev units L may be alike. In fact, they are preferably alike and each involves a vertical cage 4I carrying pins 42 that support the rollers. The pins are carried by the cage so that they are horizontally disposed and are in vertical spaced relation one above the other, as

4 clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The particular cage 4I illustrated in the drawings is a vertically disposed block with an inner side 43 facing the kelly and an cuter side 44 facing the wall I2 of the body F. The cage has a bottom 45 bearing on the bottom I3 of the body and a top 46 engaged by the cap G. The cage is further provided with flat parallel vertical side walls 41.

The body F has recesses or chambers that extend vertically between the bottom I3 and cap G and each of which carries a cage 4I and a means M and a wedging means O in connection with that cage. In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings each such recess of the body involves spaced opposed flat vertical faces 48 between which the cage is confined and on which the side walls 4l of the cage bear. The bottom of each recess is defined by inclined walls 49 which will be hereinafter described.

Each cage 4I carries a plurality of rollers 40 and their supporting pins 42 and it is preferred that the cage be recessed as at 50 to accommodate the rollers. In the particular case illustrated the recess provided in the cage to accommodate the rollers extends through the cage from its front face 43 to its rear face 44 and is such as to leave intermediate reinforcing ribs 5I extending horizontally between the side portions in which the pins 42 are supported. It will be noted that the pins 42 are so located'in the cages as to support the rollers 40 so that they project a substantial distance from the inner side or face 43 of the cage in a manner to project from the cage for cooperative engagement with a side I0 of the kelly E.

In practice I make provision for suitable lubrication of the rollers. In fact, in the particular construction illustrated each roller carrying pin 42 has a key projection 53 on one end engaging a part of the cage so that the pin is held against rotation and a floating bearing bushing 54 is carried on the pin to support the roller. Longitudinal lubricant passages 55 are provided in the cage and communicate with distributing passages 56 in the pin which passages 56 distribute lubricant to the bushings so that a suitable nlm of lubricant is maintained between each bushing and the roller.

The adjustable supporting means M provided in connection with each unit L is a wedge means and in its preferred form it involves two like wedges 6U oppositely disposed between the cage 4I and the wall I 2'of the body F. The wedges 60 elongate vertically disposed members adapted to move horizontally and they are tapered horizontally as clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Each wedge has a fiat face 6I bearing against the outer face or side 44 of the cage 4I and has an inclined flat face 62 seated on or bearing against a correspondingly inclined face 49 at the bottom of the recess in the body carrying the cage 4I. The wedges 6U are oppositely disposed and are preferably arranged so that their thick or side edges are adjoining or in opposed relation so that as the wedges 50 are moved apart horizontally they ride out on the faces 49 to move the cage 4I inwardly toward the central axis of the structure and consequently toward the kelly E arranged through the structure.. Y

In the preferred form of the invention the wedges 60 extendthe full length of the cage, that is, they extend between the bottom I3 and the cap G, and they may, if desired, be guided horizontallyby means other than the bottom f't0"be freely movedhorizontally.

` |13 Zand zc'apG. `=In the case. lllustratedfthelwedges f`60 arefslidablyfguidedby the cage 54|,there`f-'bering .dovetaillconnections -10 provdedat the upperl andLlower-end portions ofthe wedges vwhich-` con-'- fnections slidably mount the "wedges fon lthe fcage "or couple the wedgesto the-icage, Lallowing them The means )N provided for settingor Alocking :the wedges B ymay involve la 'set screw ffor V'each wedge. :In the caseillustrated --IP-have vshownv set screws I I carriedby fthe wall v2|"2 Aof @the body so that they `have Yheads 12 at the exterior of the body while their threaded shank portions are within the body 'and are'threaded into openings 113 in the wedges 60. The .heads 12.;may,be located in vertically disposed Lrecesses M in the exterior of -the body v`wall |2, as `shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Through the means Njjust described the operator can individually set the 'wedges 'i f *2 .'The operating lmeans LaC) fserves to positively operate the'wedges `6|) lto'th'e desired expanded position where they-holdthefca'ge 4| soith-atthe yrollers 48 properly-engage thekelly "Ihejop- "erating -means O `is preferably "a wedgeameans and in the preferred form of the invention it involves a pair of vertically operating wedges 80 located between the opposing edge portions of the wedges 60. Operating means, preferably a screw means, is provided for operating the wedges 80 between the wedges 60. In the preferred form of the invention the opposing inner walls 8| of the wedges 60 at the upper halves of the wedges 6|] are upwardly convergent while the corresponding walls 82 at the lower halves of the Wedges 60 are downwardlyv convergent. The wedges 80 are tapered to conform to the taper or convergence of the wallsy 8| and 82 and they are arranged between these .Walls so that they force the wedges 60 horizontally apart when they are moved vertically apart and conversely they allow the wedges 60 to move vvhorizontally together when they are moved vertically together. In the particular construction illustrated the wedges 80 are slidably guided by the wall 8| and 82 of the wedges 60 and the wedges 80 are coupled together by suitable dove-tail connections 85, as shown in Fig. of the drawings. The means provided for operating the wedges 8D may involve any suitable mechanism that may serve to move the wedges 80 vertically so that they either move apart or together. In the preferred form of the invention which I have illustrated in the drawings I provide a screw means for operating the wedges 80. This involves a vertically disposed screw 86 located between the wedges 60 and having its upper and lower portions oppositely threaded, that is, threaded so that the portion engaging one wedge 80 is lefthanded while that engaging the other wedge 80 is righthanded. An operating head, for instance, a polygonal head 88 is provided on the upper end of the screw 86 to be accessible through a suitable access opening 89 provided in the cap G.

With this construction it will be apparent that as the screw 86 is rotated the wedges 80 will be positively forced either apart or together, depending upon the direction of rotation of the screw, and it will be apparent that the screw can be rotated to positively lock or set the wedges 60 ln any desired position behind the cage so that the cage is held in the desired position relative to the kelly. With the wedges 68 located in the desired manner by the operation of the wedges 80 the setting means N is operated by threading the set 1screws fintothewedges 60, Lthus positivelyfsetting "or` oicking lthe wedges-60 against shifting for creeping f Y V YIn yhandling'the'structure that Il have provided it*is initially-assembled on the kelly Eby-slipping vthe bodyFfover one end ofthe kelly and'thereafter `arranging fthe units L inthe l'body.- iWhen 'the unitsLhave-been arranged in the body the capGisY applied an'dfis rotatedin a counterclojckwise direction until -gthe stop means 5J -operates 'tostoplsuchturning at which time the 'lugs -2v0 1and`22j will be fully engaged. When the-'capi's thus'stoppedloytthemeans J -the openings 3|farid l32,'areinregister*toreceive the'pins 38 and `when 'the pinsareFinplacethey areset or'retained by .thescrew means/that I have provided. The 'screws iliij'in connection with the 'wedgermeans areV then Yoperatedto Abring, the rollers All into the desired. proximity Vrto or engagement 'with the kellyy E .whereupon the means 'N 'are set positivelylockin'g the wedges E against"furthenshifting orfniovement. Whenever wear `or looseness develops it is .a s'implejmatter to rotate vthescrevvzs BSto operate the wedges' apartwithconsequent inward movement of the cages.""When'suchadjustments -are 'made "the set screws `'l'l are operated to again lock the wedges B0 against displacement.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall `within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a kelly bushing a vertically disposed body surrounding the kelly, a roller carrying cage slidably mounted in the body to move toward the kelly and into driving engagement therewith, and wedge means adjustably supporting the cage in kelly engaging position in the body, including two like spaced oppositely disposed wedges acting between the body and cage, and means between theA wedges operating the wedges horizontally of the body.

2. In a kelly bushing a vertically disposed body surrounding the kelly, a roller carrying cage slidably mounted in the body to move toward the kelly and into driving engagement therewith, and wedge means adjustably supporting the cage in kelly engaging position in the body, including two like spaced oppositely disposed wedges acting between the body and cage, a vertically shiftable operating wedge engaged between the said oppositely disposed wedges, and means operating the operating wedge to effect spreading of the oppositely disposed wedges.

3. In a kelly bushing a vertically disposed body surrounding the kelly, a roller carrying cage slidably mounted in the body to move toward the kelly and into driving engagement therewith, and wedge means adjustably supporting the cage in kelly engaging position in the body, including two like spaced oppositely disposed wedges acting between the body and cage, a vertically shiftable operating wedge engaged between the said oppositely disposed wedges, and a vertically disposed screw operating the operating wedge to eect spreading of the oppositely disposed wedges and having an end portion accessible for engagement by an operating tool.

4. In a kelly bushing a vertically disposed body surrounding the kelly, a roller carrying cage slidably mounted in the body to move toward the atender 7 kelly and into driving engagement therewith, and wedge means adjustably supporting the cage in kelly engaging position in the body, including two like spaced oppositely disposed wedges acting between the body and cage, two spaced vertically shiftable operating Wedges engaged beltween said oppositely disposed wedges, and a single vertically disposed operating screw engaging and operating both of said operating wedges.

.. v 5. In a kelly bushing a vertically disposed body surrounding the kelly, a roller carrying cage slidably mounted in the body to move toward the kelly and into driving engagement therewith, and wedge means adjustably supporting thecage in kelly engaging position in the body, including two like spaced oppositely disposed wedges acting between the body and cage, two vertically spaced operating wedges between the said oppositely disposed wedges and shiftable vertically in opposite directions to operate the oppositely disposed wedges, and a vertically disposed operating screw having left handed threaded engagement with .one of the operating wedges and having right handed threaded engagement with the other Aoperating Wedge.

. 6. In a kelly bushing a vertically disposed body 8 surrounding thekelly, a roller carrying cage slidably Amounted in the body to moveftoward the kelly and into driving engagement therewith, and wedge means adjustably supporting the cage in kelly engaging position in the body, including two like spaced oppositely disposed wedges acting between the body and cage, means between the wedges operating the wedges horizontally of the body, and lock screws acting between the body and the said oppositely disposed wedges setting said wedges in operating position.

WILLIAM A. VOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordA in the le of this patent:

UNHED STATES PA Y 2,312,804 Derrick Mar. 2, 1943 

